The main cause of bleeding gums is the buildup of plaque at the gum line. This will lead to a condition called gingivitis, or inflamed gums. Plaque that is not removed will harden into tartar. This will lead to increased bleeding and a more advanced form of gum and jaw bone disease known as periodontitis.
You should be concerned about bleeding gums if it continues to worsen. If the bleeding continues even after maintaining good oral hygiene, then it is best to see your dentist. This will allow your dentist to treat any early stages of gum disease or periodontal disease before your gums' conditions become severe.
Pain, redness, or bleeding of the gums should not happen every day. If the problem arises frequently or does not go away with good oral hygiene practices, a dentist can check for early-stage gum disease and other issues. See a healthcare professional for signs of infection, such as fever or swelling.
Although it's not common in modern times, there are still some people who experience excessive gum bleeding due to poor nutrition. The lack of vitamins C and K are among the possible causes of excessive bleeding that are diet-related. People with scurvy may also experience heavy gum bleeding.
Gingivitis can cause dusky red, swollen, tender gums that bleed easily, especially when you brush your teeth. Healthy gums are firm and pale pink and fitted tightly around the teeth. Signs and symptoms of gingivitis include: Swollen or puffy gums.
Gingivitis usually clears up after a thorough professional cleaning — as long as you continue good oral hygiene at home. Your dentist will help you plan an effective at-home program and a schedule of regular professional checkups and cleaning.
If your diet is low in vitamin K or vitamin C, you might have a nutrient deficiency causing bleeding gums. Foods high in vitamin C include strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, and citrus fruits. Foods high in vitamin K are leafy greens like kale, watercress, and spinach.
Patients with leukemia can experience various symptoms that can cause pain and discomfort. This includes oral health issues like bleeding gums, also known as gingival bleeding, which can occur from bruising and plaque build-up alongside the gum line.
When your gums bleed, it's a sign that plaque and/or food particles are accumulating along your gum line and the gums have become irritated and inflamed. You need to brush and floss to remove all of this build up to make the bleeding stop; failing to remove it will only worsen the inflammation and bleeding.
Mental stress can cause many problems, and bleeding gums are one of them. When stressed, your body goes into fight-or-flight mode and diverts blood away from your gums and towards your muscles. It can make your gums more susceptible to injury and inflammation, leading to bleeding.
If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, which is a more serious form of gum disease that can lead to tooth loss and chronic health conditions. There are four stages of gum disease: gingivitis, early periodontitis, moderate periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis.
An iron deficiency, also known as anemia, can lead to you having a higher risk for bleeding gums. Since your body doesn't have enough iron, your blood doesn't form platelets that restrict bleeding well. Gums that are pale in color instead of pink are a sign of anemia. Other symptoms are a swollen or painful tongue.
As long as you seek treatment and comply with your dentist's instructions, gingivitis will dramatically reduce within a few weeks.
Periodontal disease isn't life-threatening. But it can lead to other health conditions that may require treatment, especially if the infection spreads to other areas of your body. Gum disease isn't curable. But it's manageable with proper treatment.
Other oral symptoms of leukemia
swollen or painful gums. pale gums or paleness inside the mouth. an overgrowth of gum tissue around the teeth, which may cause the shape or size of the teeth to change in appearance. sores or injuries in the mouth.
What is oral cancer? Oral cancer (mouth cancer) is the broad term for cancer that affects the inside of your mouth. Oral cancer can look like a common problem with your lips or in your mouth, like white patches or sores that bleed.
Oral manifestations occur frequently in leukemic patients and may present as initial evidence of the disease (5). They include petechial hemorrhages of the tongue, lips, posterior hard and soft palate, gingival hyperplasia, spontaneous gingival bleeding, oral ulcerations and mucosal pallor (1, 5).
Long-term stress is proven to weaken the immune system. This lowers your body's ability to fight infections. As a result, you have an increased risk of several dental issues, like bleeding and inflamed gums. The changes to your gum health can be the result of an infection called periodontal disease.
You may be surprised to learn that hormone surges may make you more vulnerable to gum disease. Here's why: More female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) cause more blood to flow to your gums, which causes them to become more sensitive and “overreact” to anything that may irritate them.
Gingivitis, The First Stage Of Gum Disease, Is Reversible
If you have gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease, your condition can be reversed and eliminated. This is because, by definition, gingivitis does not cause any permanent damage to your teeth and gums. It's the first and most common stage of gum disease.
Gingivitis can cause your breath to smell like sulfur or rotten eggs. This is because of the bacteria in your mouth releasing chemicals that smells like these things. If you have gingivitis, you may also notice that your gingiva, or gums, are red and swollen. You may also bleed when you brush or floss your teeth.
If you have gingivitis, which is the earliest form of gum disease, you'll likely notice inflamed, red, swollen, and bleeding gums. In this stage, the infection is still reversible. In contrast, periodontitis is a far more severe condition characterized by deep pockets that form in between teeth.
Untreated gingivitis will progress into periodontitis, which is a more severe stage of gum disease. The infection and pockets deepen while eating away at your jaw until your teeth become loose and fall out.